Gaddafi says will ask G8 for Africa resolution

Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi gestures during a speech at the La Sapienza University in Rome June 11, 2009.

ROME (Reuters) - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Thursday he will press industrialized nations at the G8 summit in Italy in July to make a commitment to compensate African countries for the colonial period.

"Let us recognize that Africans were treated as animals. We should ask forgiveness and think about how resources could be returned to their legitimate owners," he told students at Rome University.

"Even though the resources have been used, that does not excuse you. You have to think of how they can be compensated .. (to think) we stole the African riches and we have to pay them back. This way immigration will end and we will overcome the greatest challenge of our time," he said.

"I will take part, God willing, in the G8 and I will say that all countries who colonized other countries have to compensate them and ask forgiveness," he said.

Gaddafi will attend the July summit as chairman of the African Union. He will attend the part of the summit due to include African leaders.

Italian diplomats have said Gaddafi could meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the summit, which would be the first meeting between the Libyan leader and a U.S. president.

Gaddafi is in Italy for his first trip to the former colonial occupier since he came to power in a coup in 1969.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)